If making things look effortless was an art, Emma Hayes would be the Picasso of it. A strange way to praise the English tactician but everyone knows it’s her fluid way of achieving things that speak for themselves. For starters, taking 81 days to reinstill the glory of a team like USWNT isn’t something we witness regularly. For someone like Emily Fox, however, it was rather the ‘excellent team culture’ that made Hayes successful.

“It was amazing,” begins the Arsenal star on the latest episode of ‘The Women’s Game’ podcast, reflecting on the arrival of the former Chelsea boss in the States. Even though many had doubts over Hayes’ ability, Fox was eager just like every other USWNT teammate to learn from one of the best coaches in the world.

“I was really excited because she’s the best and I think at Chelsea she had that winning culture and was so successful there. For me and for a lot of players, we were just really excited, wanting to learn and to grow individually and as a team. I think with her and her entire staff, the transition was so smooth,” said the 26-year-old, before highlighting the little details that made Hayes stand out from others.

It’s not just the tactical, technical, or soccer-wise expertise of Hayes that Fox finds ‘excellent’; the defender also highlighted her NT manager’s ability to foster a strong team culture, emphasizing the emotional and social aspects of the game. According to the Gunners superstar, these qualities are just as important, if not more so, in major tournaments and with national teams, where coaches don’t have the same daily interaction with players as they do at the club level.

Another personal touch Hayes brought to the team was encouraging cross-family interaction. It often felt like every day was ‘Bring Your Kids to Work Day,’ with not only Emma’s 6-year-old son Charlie, but also Casey Krueger’s and Crystal Dunn’s little ones regularly present at training—something the players loved being part of. “It just creates a tight-knit group and brings a lot more humility to it when you have kids around,” concluded Fox.

Looks like Hayes was keen to create her very own USWNT family ever since arriving at the camp. Regardless, the important part is that it worked in the favor of the Stars and Stripes. But if you think that Emma’s role ends here, there’s more than you certainly would like to know!

Here’s how Emma Hayes bonded with the USWNT players!

Fox described how Hayes made things easier for the team in the high-pressure environment of the Olympics. “Before the Olympics, we tried to do some team bonding stuff. We went out to eat, had some activities to do which was nice, and then in the Olympics we did a lot of team meetings that built more team culture and kind of showed a bit more vulnerability in ourselves,” added Fox.

She also emphasized Hayes’ humility and human approach, which had a calming effect. The former Blues boss recognized the pressure without needing to constantly remind the players, helping them stay focused and relaxed. “Emma was really good in terms of how she talked and giving us confidence and belief in ourselves. That was one thing that made a big difference,” concluded Emily.

No wonder everything seemed so effortless for Emma Hayes. Best in the world for a reason!